Pipe-carrier.



PATENT-ED AUG. 7, 1906.

0. P. JPORTBOUS. PIPE CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 28. 1906.

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THE NORRIS PETERS co., WASHINGTON, n. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIOE.

CHRISTOPHER F. PORTEOUS, OF WILKINSBURG,PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH .AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENN- SYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. '7, 1906.

Application filed March 28, 1906. Serial No. 308.447.

T0 aZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER F. Pon- TEOUS, of Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in Pipe-Carriers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to pipe-carriers. I will describe a pipe-carrier embodying my invention and then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of a pipe-carrier embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a two-way pipe-carrier embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the pipe-carrier illustrated in Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view.

imilar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

1 designates a post or standard, the lower portion of which is shown as being shaped to form legs 2 2, each provided with a flat portion 3, by means of which the post or standard is secured in position. Each post or standard is formed with a horizontally-a1 ranged opening or slot 4, serving as a bearing for a journal or trunnion 5 of a supportingroller 6 and with a U-shaped socket 7, serving as a bearing for a journal or trunnion 8 of a top roller 9. The posts or standards 1, havng the above characteristic, may be formed in any desired manner and are well known in the art. Two such posts or standards and a supporting-roller 6 and a top roller 9 constitute what is known in the art as a one-way carrier. For two, three, or more way carrlers additional posts or standards and rollers 6 9 are required. In the drawings I have illustrated a two-way carrier. The several posts or standards and the supporting-rollers 6 are assembled and the posts or standards then secured to a suitable foundation by fastening devices which pass through the openin s 10 in the fiat portions 3. The upper ro lers 9 are then placed in the U-shaped sockets and the upper endc of the posts or standards joined by means of the connectingstraps 11, which are held in place in the U- shaped sockets at their ends by means of suitable fastening devices 12, passing through openings 13, formed in the walls of the U- shaped sockets. It will be observed clearly from Fig. 2 that the adjacent ends of two strapsll overlap in the U-shaped sockets and that each end is provided with a recess 14, through which the fastening device passes. Instead of the recesses 14 in the ends of the straps openings may be provided. These connecting straps perform two functions, one being to connect and brace the upper ends of the posts or standards, and the other is to hold the upper rollers in place in the posts or standards. Heretofore these connecting-straps have been formed from a piece of metal uniform in its contour and of a width considerably narrower than the width of the U-shaped recess. The reason of this will be apparent from an inspection of Figs. 2 and 3, where it will be noted that in the case of a two or more way carrier the U-shapedrecesses have to be wide enough to accommodate the adjacent overlapping ends of two connecting-straps. These pipe-carriers were made in this manner in order that all parts be standard, thus materially cheapening .their cost. In the event of a oneway carrier being employed it will be seen that the stand ard-connecting strap would not be of suflicient width to properly hold the upper roller in place in the U-shaped socket. To overcome this difficulty, I provide each connecting-strap at each end portion with a lateral extension or extensions 15, constituting a bearing portion. Each lateral extension is of a width at least equal to the diameter of v a journal or of a width sufiicient to properly hold the upper roller in place in the post or standard. As will be seen from the drawings, a connecting-strap so formed is provided for each upper roller and that the bearing portions 15 at the adjacent ends of two connect ing-straps will not interfere in a U-shaped socket.

It will be seen, therefore, that my invention comprises a connecting-strap for posts or standards of a pipe-carrier formed with bearing-surfaces to engage the journals of an upper roller to hold the upper roller in place in a pair of posts or standards.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. A connecting-strap for use in pipe-can riers having lateral extensions at its end portions constituting bearing portions for the journals of an upper roller.

' sions at its ends constituting bearing por- 2. Apipe carrier comprisingapair of posts In testimony whereof I have signed my or standards, a supporting and upper roller, name to this specification in the presence of 10 having bearings in thef posts or standalrds i two subscribed Witnesses. and a connectin -strap or the upper en s 0 the posts or stafidards having lateral exten- I CHRISTOPHER PORTEOUS' Witnesses:

GEO. MCCORMICK,

tions to enga e the journals of the upper D W. L. MCDANIEL.

roller. 

